Colorado Democrats call for liability for makers of assault-style weapons

By Kurtis LeeThe Denver Post

Posted:
02/05/2013 09:37:56 AM MST

Colorado Rep. and Speaker of the House Mark Ferrandino, speaks at Tuesday morning's press conference on Democratic gun control proposals. Ferrandino is flanked by fellow Democrats as well as victims of the Columbine and Aurora theater shootings. (Kurtis Lee, The Denver Post)

Colorado Democrats said they will introduce bills that would hold makers and sellers of assault-style weapons legally liable for any harm gunmen inflicted with them in a news conference Tuesday in which they called for a long list of tough new gun-control laws.

Party leaders made the announcement at a morning news conference in the West foyer of the state Capitol. Flanked by survivors and family of mass shootings at Columbine High School and at a theater in Aurora, party leaders touted their legislative goals as a "comprehensive" package of gun bills.

The Democrats did not release copies of the various bills.

Aside from the call for liability for makers and sellers of assault-style weapons, Democrats called for a limited-size ammunition magazines, fees for gun background checks, stricter training for concealed weapons permits and other prohibitions.

Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper, who voiced support for universal background checks in his State of the State address, did not attend the press conference.

However, on Thursday Hickenlooper is scheduled to meet privately with National Rifle Association President David Keene. The NRA has voiced staunch opposition to any new firearms laws at the federal and state levels.

"I'm not sure why Democrats here in Colorado and in Washington, D.C., think that more gun laws is the answer," said state Rep. Ed Vigil, D-Fort Garland. "Bans or extra requirements are not going to prevent crimes."

In the wake of recent mass shootings in Aurora and at an elementary in Newtown, Conn., a majority of state Democrats have voiced support for stricter gun laws. Meanwhile, Republicans have argued that such legislation is not the answer to preventing future mass shootings.

Since the legislative session convened in January, several rallies by supporters and opponents of new gun laws have drawn hundreds to the state Capitol.

And Democrats have already rejected a pair of Republican-led efforts to expand gun availability, including allowing teachers to carry guns in classrooms.

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